Breakdown Assistance

**dutchduke** · 07 Jan 08, 11:28 AM

hi all , just had my new insurance quote and it's only £20 cheaper then last year with a extra year ncb.For the last 2 years i've been with carole Nash , one of the reasons because of the "free" breakdown assistance.
Will try some different companies but does any body know any good breakdown policies for bikes (AA , RAC?), how much they are and any experience.will be doing a couple of european trips this year

cheers

**oh_seven** · 07 Jan 08, 11:32 AM

Hi there,

With Bennetts for the past three years. Policy comes with RAC backed breakdown. Used it once. Excellent, bike aware assistance provided.

**Kenoir** · 07 Jan 08, 11:35 AM

I think there's been some bad feedback about the AA on here somewhere.

**Brian** · 07 Jan 08, 11:40 AM

I use roadsure and have been a lot cheeper than CN and you get free roadside assistance and a boomerang key thing so if you lose your keys there insured too just incase you need to replace the lock's ect 8)

**gillan900** · 07 Jan 08, 11:46 AM

I discovered a few years ago that the AA breakdown cover I had wasn't as good as first thought. If I was to be knocked off my bike and was unable to ride it away they wouldn't come out to rescue me

but the RAC would

So guess who I'm with...

**NedLudd** · 07 Jan 08, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dutchduke

hi all , just had my new insurance quote and it's only £20 cheaper then last year with a extra year ncb.For the last 2 years i've been with carole Nash , one of the reasons because of the "free" breakdown assistance.
Will try some different companies but does any body know any good breakdown policies for bikes (AA , RAC?), how much they are and any experience.will be doing a couple of european trips this year

dutchduke - before you do anything, go to the CN website and get a quote as if you were new business. I'll bet that it's significantly cheaper than the renewal quote CN have sent you. I like to stay with CN because they're a big and reputable broker and because of their bike-specific breakdown cover, of which I've heard very good things (on this site); this is what I therefore do every year. Last year I think I was quoted c£220, but got the policy online for c£165. Talk to their advisors and they'll agree it's dotty, but that's how it is. All it entails is a different policy number.

FWIW I've just done exactly this with my AA cover. Quoted c£120 for my level of cover, checked online and found they were quoting £90, rang them to get stroppy, renewal quote duly amended.

**Lucazade 749s** · 07 Jan 08, 12:52 PM

Had problems with Honda CBR but no problems with RAC which came to take it to doctor or to perform CPR.
I would recommend RAC but at the end it is also how lucky you are, person showing up to help might be a bike mechanic or not. Do not, I repeat do not use AA. The only good AA is Anonymous Alcoholic.
There was a thread last year, one of guys travelled with AA home. 8 miles or so took like 3 hours.

The best option is not to break down.

Uu Uu sun is out, going quickly shopping before rain returns.

**sadbiker** · 07 Jan 08, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gillan900

I discovered a few years ago that the AA breakdown cover I had wasn't as good as first thought. If I was to be knocked off my bike and was unable to ride it away they wouldn't come out to rescue me

but the RAC would

So guess who I'm with...

No... You will find this with any breakdown company, most are now working to the idea that if the vehicle is immobilised by a accident then it is not a breakdown, they will want your insurers details as they will actually claim the cost of the recovery back from them.

Thats why it is sometimes best not to say to much when banging in the call.

**Steve GD** · 07 Jan 08, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Monster learner

Had problems with Honda CBR but no problems with RAC which came to take it to doctor or to perform CPR.
I would recommend RAC but at the end it is also how lucky you are, person showing up to help might be a bike mechanic or not. Do not, I repeat do not use AA. The only good AA is Anonymous Alcoholic.
There was a thread last year, one of guys travelled with AA home. 8 miles or so took like 3 hours.

The best option is not to break down.

Uu Uu sun is out, going quickly shopping before rain returns.

Yep, that was me. Sunday evening, and they sent out first a patrolman whose van had no hope of getting me going (broken clutch lever) and no way to get my bike in hos van. Was a further two hours before a properly equipped recovery truck arrived. I still believe they were making their stats look good (% of calls attended in under 1 hr).

Cannot recommend AA because of this

**Bananaduke** · 07 Jan 08, 02:14 PM

I was in a mates car last night that broke down, and as I'm covered with the AA as a passenger I could get them to help him.

When I called they said they would be out within 60 mins, and this was Sunday evening so I was expecting a bit more of a wait, but a nice yellow van was with us in about 6 mins.

He opened up the bonnet and had a look round and within a few minutes he found the fault and the car was running. It was in a Mazda RX7 aswell, so no bog standard engine.

If they are half as good with bikes as cars I'd highly recommend the AA.

**GeoffDuc** · 07 Jan 08, 03:01 PM

NCI - £39 for full years breakdown recovery.

**NedLudd** · 07 Jan 08, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bananaduke

If they are half as good with bikes as cars I'd highly recommend the AA.

I think the problem is that they aren't!

I'm with the AA for four wheels because I think they're good for that; they consistently do well in consumer surveys.

But I deliberately stay with Carole Nash for insurance in order to keep their bike breakdown cover, a position fortified by everything I've read about the AA and bikes on this forum.

**dutchduke** · 07 Jan 08, 08:42 PM

I tried doing the quote on the cn website and hey £8 more expensive

.well just going to ring around then and see what the others got to offer.

Agree with not trying to brake down but sod's law , if you got it,it wont happen

and if you dont got it will happen

, or is it murphys law

**dutchduke** · 07 Jan 08, 08:44 PM

ps what came first the AA breakdown or the AA booze ?, or is the one the result of the other one

**Si90** · 08 Jan 08, 08:52 AM

I get all my insurance Quotes via Confused.com and in the last 3 years all my Car and Bike insurances have gone down by at least £80 from my renewal. I pay £180 for the 748, £265 for my Audi A4 Quattro 2 litre turbo and £190 for my 1.8 Focus all Fully Comp with legal cover and protected NCD, both cars with er-in-doors on and all of which I consider bargains.

I have found that via Confused companies that I am up for renewal with actually quote cheaper than going direct. I have also found that it does benefit to sometimes call the company direct after getting the quote off Confused quoting the internet quote referance. I did that with the 748 last year and saved another £24 - I quickly emphasise only sometimes. My Opinion only, Carole Nash are far too expensive and so are Ducati and Bennets.

I can often save enough on the policy to cover paying for breakdown cover direct although I don't need too as I get it with my bank account and that covers me and the wife so the cars and the bike are all covered. I have a sneaky fealing that I have breakdown cover on the bike with my Insurance and European cover for upto 90 days but not sure as none are currently needed